Table leg locking mechanism



Sept 23, 1958 J. B. ADLER 2,853,348

TABLE LEG LOCKING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 25, 1957 l 02 Sheets-Sheet 1 IllIlIlIlIl',Il11111111llllwllllllllllllllll `1I' f INENTOR. JOHN 5. '/QDA EP Sept. 23, 1958 J. B. ADLER 2,853,348

TABLELEG LOCKING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 25, 195.7 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. kJ'O/"/V B. HDL El? BY L 4x United `States Patent TABLE LEG' LOGKING M'ECHANISM John B. Adler, Grosse 11e, Mich. `Application February. 25, v1-95'7 `,5Seri'al`r No. 641,942

u 1 claims. (ci. 311...g9

This invention relates to an improved table leg locking device.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device which will permit the legs of a table to be folded against the table top to facilitate storage of the table.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a leg locking device which will hold the legs in the extended position when folded away from the table top.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide locking means which eliminate use of special fastening or release mechanism.

Other objects and advanta-ges of this invention will be readily apparent from the following description.

in the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a card table embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective of the leg locking device with the leg partially broken away in an extended position.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 with the leg in the folded or nested position.

Figure 4 is a view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a view taken along line 6-6 of Figure 5.

The card table illustrated has a top 10 and four de- -pending legs 12 which may be extended as seen in Figure l or folded to a nested position adjacent top 10 to facilitate storage of the table. Since the four legs are identical only one of the locking devices is illustrated and will be described.

A bracket 14 is triangular in shape adapted to tit into a corner of the table and has depending anges 16 on the sides fitting into the table corner. These flanges have depressions 18 formed therein which depressions have a bore therethrough to receive an extremity 20 of the pivoting support rods 22. Each rod has one extremity 20 bent at right angles to enter the bore in depressions 18 and the opposite extremities 24 likewise bent at right angles and inserted into suitable holes in the tubular leg 12. In this manner the leg is pivotally suspended from rods 22, which in turn are pivotally suspended from bracket 14.

A channel 26 has a tongue 28 which projects through a suitable 4slot in bracket 14 and is bent over. Rivet 30 passes through channel 26 and bracket 14 and completes the mounting of the channel in the bracket. The channel has a pair of opposed slots 32 which receive pin 34 carried at the upper extremity of leg 12. When the leg is in the extended position (see Figures 2 and 5) pin 34 is at the innermost extremity of slots 32 and engagement with channel 26 limits further pivoting of the leg.

when the leg 12 is folded to the nested position (see Figures 3 and 4) the pin 34 is at the outermost extremity of slots v32 and engagement of the pin with channel 26 limits further pivoting of the leg.

The slots 32 are of sufficient length so that leg 12 may pivot from the nested position beyond the vertical to a position wherein the legs are inclined somewhat outwardly from the table as seen in Figure l.

LCC

With the legs in this position any ldownward force upon the table tends to lpivot. the legis further so that the tendency is forl the legs .to remain in the extended positi'on. Also friction between pin 34y and the ysides of slot 32 resists pivoting of legs 1 2 ltoward the -nested position.

Inthis manner the legs-are heldl in their extended' positionv without use of special fasteners or the like andfwill not pivot to the nested position unless manually vmoved past the vertical position.

While what hereinbefore fhas been described is the preferred embodiment off this invention` itl is readily 'apparentv that alterations andmodications may be resorted to without departing from Ythe scope. This 'invention and such alterations and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

l. A locking mechanism for a pivoting table leg comprising means for pivotally mounting a leg upon a table, means for guiding pivoting of said leg from a nested position to an extended position beyond a position normal to said table, said guide means being inclined with respect to the table surface so that its outermost portion isa furthermost distance from the table surface whereby any downward force upon said table tends to hold said leg in the extended position. v v

2. A locking mechanism for a pivoting table leg comprising a bracket attached to a corner of a table, a table leg, means for pivotally mounting said leg to said bracket, guide means upon said bracket, and means on said leg engaging said guide means permitting pivoting of said leg from a nested position to an extended position beyond a position normal to said table, said guide means being inclined with respect to the table surface so that its outermost portion is a furthermost distance from the table surface whereby any downward force upon said table tends to hold said leg in the extended position.

3. A locking mechanism for apivoting table leg comprising a bracket attached to a corner of a table, a table leg, a pair of rods pivotally secured to said bracket and to said leg, guide means upon said bracket, and means on said leg engaging said guide means permitting pivoting of said leg from a nested position to an extended position beyond a position normal to said table, said guide means being inclined with respect to the table surface so that its outermost portion is a furthermost distance from the table surface whereby any downward force upon saidl table tendsl to hold said leg in the extended position.

4. A locking mechanism for a pivoting table leg comprising a bracket attached to a corner of a table, a table leg, a pair of rods having the extremities thereof bent one to enter said bracket the other said leg to pivotally mo-unt said leg to said bracket, guide means upon said bracket, and means on said leg engaging said guide means permitting pivoting of said leg from a nested position to an extended position beyond a position normal to said table, said guide means being inclined with respect to the table surface so that its outermost portion is a furthermost distance from the table surface whereby any downward force upon said table tends to hold said leg in the extended position.

5. A locking mechanism for a pivoting table leg comprising a bracket attached to a corner of a table, a table leg, means for pivotally mounting said leg to said bracket, a channel upon said bracket having a slotway therein, a pin upon said leg fitting into said slotway, permitting pivoting of said leg from a nested position to an extended position beyond a position normal to said table, said slotway being inclined with respect to the table surface so that the outermost portion thereof is a further distance from the table surface whereby any downward force upon said table tends to hold said leg in the extended position.

6. A locking mechanism for a pivoting table leg comprising a bracket attached to a corner of a table, a table leg, a pair of rods pivotally secured to said bracket and ,to saidleg, a channel upon said bracket having a slot way therein, a pin upon said leg fitting into said slo-tway,

said slotway being inclined with respect to the table surface so that the outermost portion thereof is a further distance from the table surface whereby any downward force upon said table tends to hold said leg in the extended position.

7. A locking mechanism for a pivoting table leg cornprising a bracket attached to a corner of a table, a table ieg, a pair of rods having the extremities thereof bent one to enter said bracket the other said leg to pivotally mount said leg to said bracket, a channel upon said bracket having a slotway therein, a pin upon said leg tting into said slotway, said slotway being inclined with respect to the table surface so that the outermost portion thereof is a further distance from the table surface whereby any downward force upon said table tends to hold said leg in the extended position.

References Cited in `the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 493,021 Franks Mar. 7, 1893 1,063,642 Birdsall June 3, 1913 2,077,414 Hunting Apr. 20, 1939 2,202,624 De Saussure May 28, 1940 2,326,461 Howe Aug. 10, 1943 2,726,127 Mun Dec. 6, 1955 

